Auto vs. Diesel Mechanic - Which Career Path is Right for You?
Auto mechanics and diesel mechanics have similar jobs, but they work on different types of vehicles. Auto mechanics repair cars and diesel mechanics work on commercial vehicles. Both jobs require skills in engine repair and maintenance, and knowledge of different vehicle components and how they operate. The path you choose depends on your personal interests. Here’s a closer look at each role to help you decide.
What is an Auto Mechanic?
Auto mechanics perform basic maintenance and handle complex repairs to different types of automobiles, from sports cars and sedans to pickup trucks and jeeps. In this job, you repair the mechanical and electrical systems of a car that may have been damaged in an accident or worn out over time. You might fix or replace engine parts, batteries, wheel bearings, and brake systems. You might work on electrical sensors that tell the driver how fast they are going, how much gas is left in the tank, or what the temperature is outside. You also routinely perform maintenance checks on cars, which may include:
- Tune ups
- Oil changes & filter replacements
- Drivetrain maintenance & repairs
- Brake repairs
- Electrical system diagnosis and repair
- Scheduled maintenance work
To perform your work, you need professional equipment. You frequently use diagnostic tools, such as scanners, and multimeters, to find out what’s wrong with the engine, but you also use pneumatic wrenches, pliers, sockets, ratchets, jacks, and hoists to make other repairs.
What is a Diesel Mechanic?
A diesel mechanic has similar responsibilities to an auto mechanic, but they work with commercial trucks and vehicles with diesel engines such as tractor-trailers and semi-trucks. If you choose this career path, your knowledge of diesel engines can also qualify you to work with mobile equipment such as tractors and cranes, or on commercial ships and boats. Like an auto mechanic, you inspect, maintain, and repair diesel vehicle parts and systems. You might work the transmission, engine, brakes, and electrical system of diesel-powered vehicles to keep them working properly. But you also work on the hydraulic systems and install or repair emission control systems to ensure that the vehicles comply with pollution regulations.
As a diesel mechanic, you work with many of the same tools as an auto mechanic in addition to those that are specific to diesel engines. Among them are:
- Heavy-Duty Torque Wrenches
- Compression Testers
- Injector Pullers and Installers
- Glow Plug Removal Tools
- Fuel Pressure Testers
- Heavy-Duty Lifting Equipment
- Diesel Engine Specific Diagnostic Software
- Oil Filter Wrenches
- Turbocharger Tools
- High-Pressure Line Tools
- Exhaust Gas Analyzers
Education and Training for Mechanics
Whether you choose to pursue a career as an auto or diesel mechanic, start by earning your high school diploma or GED. While in high school, try to enroll in vocational classes that can help you become familiar with cars and the tools used to work on them. After you graduate, enroll in a training program that will introduce you to advanced vehicle inspection, maintenance, repair. Look for specific programs in automotive technology or diesel technology to set you on the right career path. The program should be led by instructors who have worked in the industry and are Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certified. Review the curriculum to make sure it provides more than just the fundamentals and gives you plenty of hands-on experience in the shop, practicing with tools and techniques on real cars, trucks, or mobile equipment.
A good program will prepare you for industry certification, which can qualify you for certain jobs or help you grow in your career. Look for ASE Certification for both auto and diesel mechanics. Some employers prefer ASE certified employees as it can help boost the ASE rating of their garage. If you work on a vehicle’s HVAC system, you’ll also need EPA Section 609 certification to handle refrigerants. If you plan to become a diesel mechanic, you may want additional certifications. For example, certification offered by specific vehicle or equipment manufacturers, such as Caterpillar, Cummins, or Detroit Diesel, will be an asset if you work on those makes. You may also want to earn a commercial driver’s license, Class A or B license, which will allow you to drive heavy equipment. A Class A license allows you to work with trucks or a combination of trucks with a Gross Vehicle Weight rating of 26,001 pounds while a Class B license allows you to drive trucks weighing 26,001 pounds or more.
Job Outlook and Salary for Mechanics
As long as there are vehicles on the road, mechanics will be needed to service them. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts growth for both auto mechanics and diesel mechanics over the next decade. 1, 2 States with the highest employment of auto mechanics include Texas, Pennsylvania, and New York3 while the top employers of diesel mechanics include Texas, New Jersey, and Illinois4. The salary for entry-level auto mechanics is around $30,6005 with states like Colorado, New Jersey and Illinois among the top-paying states for this profession3. As an auto mechanic, you can find work in auto repair shops or at car dealerships. If you pursue a career as a diesel mechanic, the entry-level salary is around $39,0206 and the top paying states are Colorado, Connecticut, and New Jersey4. Your workplace options are more varied, with job opportunities at wholesale retailers, government agencies, truck transportation and rental services, and at auto repair shops.
If you like to work with your hands, have a knack for fixing things, and have an interest in vehicles, contact Lincoln Technical Institute today. Our Automotive Technology and Diesel Technology programs can prepare you for a career as an auto mechanic or a diesel mechanic. Fill out the contact form and ask us any questions you may have.
References:
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm (visited August 29, 2024).
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/diesel-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm (visited August 29, 2024). Retrieved September 12, 2024
3 BLS - Top paying states for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes493023.htm#:~:text=top%20paying%20states%20for%20Automotive Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
4 BLS - Top paying states for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes493031.htm#:~:text=top%20paying%20states%20for%20Bus Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
5 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm (visited August 29, 2024). Retrieved September 11, 2024
6 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/installation-maintenance-and-repair/diesel-service-technicians-and-mechanics.htm (visited August 29, 2024). Retrieved September 11, 2024